Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Main Mission 10: The Secrets of Mega Evolution

This mission marks a point of major transition, as you learn about what is happening behind the scenes in Lumios City. The battles you face will test you more than usual, especially if you're not powering up a diverse group of Pokemon of all types.

Talk to Taunie, then set out for the offices of Quasartico Inc.

From where you appear, head through the door and into the plaza in front of the hotel.

A menu screen, with the Absolite item selected to be given to Absol.
A menu screen, with the Absolite item selected to be given to Absol.
Taunie and the Pokemon Trainer face off, with their Mega Evolved monsters, Absol and Manectric, facing off against each other.
Taunie and the Pokemon Trainer face off, with their Mega Evolved monsters, Absol and Manectric, facing off against each other.

Taunie is waiting for you, and walks you through giving an Absolite stone to your Absol, so it can Mega Evolve in battle. Do as she instructs you, and put Absol in your party. Then you will battle Taunie's team.

Your enemies in this fight will be Bayleef, Croconaw, and Manectric. Use a Fire monster for the first round, a Grass one for the second, and Absol for the third round. In that round, the option to Mega Evolve should appear from the onset. Evolve and then use Night Slash at close range a few times to quickly end the fight (just keep an eye on your critter's health and top it off with healing items if needed).

A cutscene follows, and then you have a new objective.

Go to Quasartico Inc. to meet Vinnie.

Taunie leaves you on your own for a bit, with orders to meet Vinnie at the Quasartico Inc. building. You also receive notice that new wild zones are available.

A map of the location of Quasartico Inc., which is seen near the west edge of the map.
A map of the location of Quasartico Inc., which is seen near the west edge of the map.
A view of the two Dedenne guards about to attack, in front of the Quasartico Inc. building.
A view of the two Dedenne guards about to attack, in front of the Quasartico Inc. building.
The Pokemon Trainer sends Absol to deal with one of the two Dedenne guards in front of the Quasartico Inc. building.
The Pokemon Trainer sends Absol to deal with one of the two Dedenne guards in front of the Quasartico Inc. building.

Head for the building, as directed. It's west of Rouge Plaza, near Restaurant Le Yeah. If you've activated it, you can warp to Magenta Pokemon Center and then head a short distance east. When you arrive, you find Taunie waiting for you. There are two Dedenne guards at the doors, which you must battle.

Fortunately, you should have Pokemon that can take the guards out with difficulty. I had Absol ready to go, and he was plenty capable of eliminating any threat.

Go to the battle court to see what Vinnie has to say.

When the battle with the Dedenne guards concludes, a cutscene follows. Vinnie invites you to meet him to the side of the building.

The Pokemon Trainer runs toward Vinnie, who is waiting in an apparent battle arena with Taunie.
The Pokemon Trainer runs toward Vinnie, who is waiting in an apparent battle arena with Taunie.
A message from the Rotom Phone indicates that winning the battle against Vinnie will earn the Pokemon Trainer a promotion to Rank F.
A message from the Rotom Phone indicates that winning the battle against Vinnie will earn the Pokemon Trainer a promotion to Rank F.

Head around the left side of the building to find a fenced in area that would make a great basketball court. Alas, that is not its purpose today. Vinnie is standing near its center, and when you get near, a cutscene follows. You learn a lot about recent events, and then you are provided an opportunity to improve your rank by a lot. Then you receive your next objective.

Get a Challenger's Ticket, then return to Vinnie for your promotion match.

The Battle Zone will eventually appear to the north of Zone 3, essentially hugging it like a cap on the map.

The map shows the location of the battle zone, located adjacent to Wild Zone 3.
The map shows the location of the battle zone, located adjacent to Wild Zone 3.
Staryu hits Flaaffy with a Pysbeam attack in the battle zone as the trainers watch.
Staryu hits Flaaffy with a Pysbeam attack in the battle zone as the trainers watch.
Staryu launches a Psybeam attack at a distant Fletchling to gain the upper hand in the next battle.
Staryu launches a Psybeam attack at a distant Fletchling to gain the upper hand in the next battle.

When you are ready, go ahead and spend time in the battle zone. But if you want to spend some time completing side quests and capturing and training more Pokemon ahead of the event, that's perfectly valid. It's just what I did, actually. There are a lot of monsters to find in the newly available wild zones.

As far as the battle zone itself goes, you should have a fair idea what to expect by now. You'll likely need to take out at least 10 rival trainers, even when fulfilling conditions of the Bonus Cards you can gather throughout the vicinity. I found that Staryu is effective against most of the enemies the other trainers use. As a bonus, it can attack from a distance using the powerful Psybeam attack, allowing for a lot of surprise attacks. If you don't already have one, make sure to get a Staryu from Wild Zone 2 as soon as possible and power it up a bit.

Boss Battle: Vinnie of Quasartico Inc.

Once you secure a Challenger's Ticket, head back to the outdoor arena near the Quasartico Building. Vinnie is waiting him, and you can finally challenge him to your duel.

A closeup of Vinnie's face. He is holding his black shades up so that his eyes are visible.
A closeup of Vinnie's face. He is holding his black shades up so that his eyes are visible.
In Mega Evolution mode, the Pokemon Trainer's Absol faces off directly against Vinnie's evolved Drampa.
In Mega Evolution mode, the Pokemon Trainer's Absol faces off directly against Vinnie's evolved Drampa.

Vinnie attacks with Houndoom, Sharpedo, and Buneary. After you dispatch those relatively weak monsters, Drampa arrives in Mega Evolution form. Bring out Absol and use the Mega Evolution move of your own. Then use the Night Slash move a few times to make mincemeat of your opponent.

After the fight ends, your rank improves all the way up to F. You also obtain TM051 Safeguard.

Head into the Quasartico Inc. office building to learn the whole story from Vinnie.

Leave the outdoor arena and head around the building, then enter through the front door for another cutscene. This one is rather extended, and formally introduces you to President Jett.

Leave the Quasartico Inc. building for now.

As directed, make your way toward the nearby front door. When you do, you'll be summoned to a counter along the back of the lobby. Head over there and learn you can finally do something with the Mega Shards you've probably been gathering.

The Pokemon Trainer heads toward the service desk near the back corner of the stylish Quasartico Inc. building, where two employees wait.
The Pokemon Trainer heads toward the service desk near the back corner of the stylish Quasartico Inc. building, where two employees wait.
A menu screen shows items available for purchase at the Mega Shard Exchange, including the Drampanite Mega Stone.
A menu screen shows items available for purchase at the Mega Shard Exchange, including the Drampanite Mega Stone.

At the desk, you can trade the shards for Exp. Candy S, as well as for the stones you need to Mega Evolve certain varieties of Pokemon. Most of those prizes are fairly expensive, but probably worth it. After you buy anything you want, exit the building.

Stop by Nouveau Cafe for refreshments.

Travel to Nouveau Cafe. You've been there before, so feel free to fast travel. When you arrive, you'll have a brief exchange with Naveen. Then you get your next objective.

Return to Hotel Z for a strategy meeting.

Now you are needed back in the hotel. Fast travel to that location and enter the building. Then veer right and find your friends gathered in a corner. Talk to Lida to initiate a strategy meeting.

Lida leads a strategy meeting in Hotel Z, and looks toward the Pokemon Trainer for input as he faces Taunie and Naveen across the table.
Lida leads a strategy meeting in Hotel Z, and looks toward the Pokemon Trainer for input as he faces Taunie and Naveen across the table.

A scene follows, which lays out missions to come. When that meeting concludes, you receive instructions that should keep you busy for a good long while. You actually have to complete the next three story missions to reach the end of this one. Those ones are:

When you complete all three of those other missions, in whatever order you like, you get to resume your efforts on Main Mission 10.

Return to Hotel Z

If you're low on any resources, replenish them. Then fast travel back to Hotel Z. As you approach the front door, a cutscene follows.

Boss Battle: Zygarde

You now must battle the dog-like Pokemon that has been following you around. It is only at level 33, so there is a good chance you have a Pokemon or two that can survive the fight without much trouble. For me, that Pokemon was Emboar.

Zygarde, the black, dog-like Pokemon, faces off against the Pokemon Trainer in the plaza in front of Hotel Z.
Zygarde, the black, dog-like Pokemon, faces off against the Pokemon Trainer in the plaza in front of Hotel Z.
Emboard prepares to use the Flame Wheel move against Zygarde, which has just slowed it down with a special attack.
Emboard prepares to use the Flame Wheel move against Zygarde, which has just slowed it down with a special attack.

With assistance from a few potions, it's easy to brute force Zygarde with a quick move with long range, such as Flame Wheel. Keep an eye on your Pokemon's health as you keep your distance and wait for a chance to use your ranged attacks.

A closeup of a new character named L, who has wears a scruffy coat with a fur collar, sports a spiky beard, and has one eye closed.
A closeup of a new character named L, who has wears a scruffy coat with a fur collar, sports a spiky beard, and has one eye closed.
A closeup view as the Pokemon Trainer, Tauni, Naveen, and Lida stand in a circle in the lobby of Hotel Z.
A closeup view as the Pokemon Trainer, Tauni, Naveen, and Lida stand in a circle in the lobby of Hotel Z.

Once you win the battle, you receive the Pebble from your worthy opponent. A scene introduces a character who calls himself L. He says some mysterious things and leaves. You then head into the hotel, where you meet your comrades. You have a conversation with them and then the mission finally concludes. 

Jason Venter headshot
Jason Venter (Associate Editor)

Jason Venter has been writing about games online since 1998, when he founded HonestGamers. He also wrote for Hardcore Gamer Magazine for its entire print run. Since then, he has freelanced at IGN, GameSpot, GamesRadar, Polygon, Game Rant, and elsewhere. In his spare time, he writes, publishes, and markets fantasy novels. Yes, he likes writing.
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